Mary Ellen Pethel

Biography

An author, historian, archivist, digital humanist, and academic entrepreneur, Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel serves as the Associate Director of Global Honors, Assistant Professor of Global Leadership Studies, and Belmont Data Collaborative Senior Data Fellow. After completing her Ph.D. in history at Georgia State University, Dr. Pethel joined Belmont's faculty full-time in 2018. She also earned a post-graduate certificate in Digital Public Humanities at George Mason University, which combines her love of history with technology.

Over the last decade Dr. Pethel has emerged as a prolific author, public speaker, and interdisciplinary practitioner. Her work includes several published several essays and five books. Her most recent book, Title IX, Pat Summitt, and Tennessee's Trailblazers, was awarded the Tennessee History Award in 2022. She is also the executive director of a walking and driving digital platform called NashvilleSites.org, which offers more than 35 free, self-guided, mobile-friendly tours in Nashville. Through NashvilleSites.org, Dr. Pethel works with local experts as well as students and faculty at Belmont, Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee State, Tennessee State, and Fisk Universities.

At Belmont, Dr. Pethel teaches interdisciplinary courses such as “Making the Modern City,” "An Honorable Life,” “Leadership Across Cultures," "Sports in American Society," "The Human Story: A Documentary Project," and "Talking 'Bout a Revolution." She is currently co-writing a biography about Grand Ole Opry star and comedian, Sarah Cannon—better known as Minnie Pearl. Additionally, she serves as a senior consultant on the DocuSeries "If Not For Them." Mary Ellen regularly engages with the community through public speaking appearances,  interviews, panels, and podcasts.